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    Cotten's Downtown

    3.7 (91 reviews)
    InexpensiveBurgers
    Closed 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Order Cotten's Downtown Takeout or Delivery

    Cotten's Downtown Photos

    Business Info

    COTTEN'S DOWNTOWN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual
    Dogs allowed

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    a hand holding a sandwich
    Stephanie S.

    Best Jam Good burger I've had! It was not only delicious, but perfectly stacked and easy to eat on the go. Thanks, Will!

    Menu!
    Jenn H.

    Awesome breakfast! Can be hard to find but if you see the tall Chase building behind you then you are in the right spot. Eggs were perfect, crisp bacon and strong coffee. Couldn't ask for anything more before making the trip back to Houston.

    Good stuff at good prices
    F H.

    Cottens has the best cheapest food anywhere!! Great prices/Great food!! If they cleaned it up better it would be 4 stars One very good waitress and one that didn't even get up out of her chair and yelled across the restaurant when someone came in the door .. "Is your order to go?" He answered back, " well, I wasn't planning it to be but can I at least see a menu!?" It was so rude of her, I really couldn't believe it.

    Total dive restaurant! Amazing real deal still alive.
    Lance K.

    I love this place, wait staff super friendly, owner very Kool... Food is unique greasy spoon DDD quality. Today I'm getting the Jam Good Burger which for me was double 1/4#, bacon, light cream cheese, pepper jelly, onion rings... For breakfast! This superb concoction of meet madness came at the suggestion of a review on the page. I've been here before and had The Defibrillator Omelette with another off menu suggestion which was a huge pancake, sugar cane syrup, cream cheese and pepper jelly. Yum. I got the opportunity to talk to the sweet rocking Kool owner, I noticed there was another Cotten's Burger place in town turns out it's her dads place and she worked there as a little girl. Anyhow she took her Dad's mastery to another level. Give this place a try, order off menu won't be disappointed!

    Cheeseburger with fries
    Antonia T.

    Cozy place downtown, the service was excellent. Our waitress was so polite and sweat, the food is cooked fresh and tastes delicious! The burgers are just enough to fill you up and the prices are also great:) I gave it four stars just because of the tight seating inside.

    Storefront
    Lucinda-Quentin T.

    This is a divey little whole in the wall with eclectic decor. Open kitchen so you can sit at the bar and watch or find a table in the small cafe. Homemade food with great little surprises like the "Donut burger" and "Jam good burger". Great spot to try when you visit the "Lake City"!

    people in a restaurant
    Jessica M.

    Great spot for burgers and breakfast. Pretty fast staff. Nice old diner look. Very nice to see your food getting cooked in front of you.

    Chris W.

    I love Cotten's burgers. I was excited to hear they were opening a downtown location. The food was the same as the original location, and it was great. I always get the cheeseburger with the egg on it. The prices are fair, and the people are friendly.

    Salt and pepper Shaker on my table.
    Melissa J.

    Love this place! It's fun and friendly! Nice old fashioned "Diner" atmosphere. Smells sooooo good! Staff is very friendly and helpful with the menu choices. Food was served quickly, hot and fresh! And very yummy!!

    Kara's Biscuits & Gravy with bacon

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    7 months ago

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    3 years ago

    Burger was absolutely phenomenal. Staff is friendly. Love the old time burger shop vibes. Also the donut burger makes me happy to be alive.

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    3 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

    The place is iconic, the food epic, and service stellar.

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    8 years ago

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    8 years ago

    I love the food here. Best bergers ever, but this place is filthy!!! I understand it's an old place but come on clean it!

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Cotten's Downtown

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    Cotton's has been serving the Lake Charles area I believe since the 1970's and that when I enjoyed…read moremy first Hamburger here - after all these years don't I believe today's burgers measure up to the burgers they served back in the day? I don't think it's from the lack of effort it's just the supply chain has changed and the quailty of the original ingredients have changed and that just the cold hard truth. This is a good burger, not a great burger in my opinion the protocol here is order what you want and accept what they sit on the counter when they call your name - today's old fashion cheese burger was pretty good and very fresh but one burger can't meet everyone's expectations, for me there is too much mustard I want some but today it was over powering, I'd sub grilled onions for raw and luckily I definitely remembered to ask for pickles otherwise you don't get any. If you want a burger where the meat is the main ingredient order a double even then it's not overwhelming. Good Onion Rings (yes) and plenty of them a large order can feed at least three hungry people. They are served hot right from the grease so add salt and pat them dry unless you like the added grease they are probably the best you'll find eating out. Now what the same as it was from years gone by, very very reasonable prices, an extremely friendly staff I love they will carry on a conversation with the customers, if you frequent this place they will remember you and maybe ask how your mom and dad are doing that's not just great customer service that's amazing hometown service and that a very rare amenity today - yeah it's changed a little or maybe it's just that I have, so if they keep serving them burgers when I'm in the area I'll keep buying them...

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    Cotten's Downtown - burgers - Updated May 2026

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